Improved turn-table for railroads



UNITED STATES G. B. MASSEY, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

IMPROVED TURN-TABLE FOR RAILROADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,353, datedAugust 21,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, G. B.MAssEY, of Mobile, in the county of Mobile andState of Alabama, have invented a new and Improved Mode of OperatingRailroad Turn-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,

` clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a vertical central section ot' my invention, taken in theline x Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same; Fig. 3, a sideview of a portion of a metallic endless band pertaining to the same;Fig. 4, a hori` zontal section of' Fig. 3, taken in the line y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists in constructing a turn-table and applyingcertain mechanism thereto in such a manner that the drivingwheels of thelocomotive7 when on the turntable and the power applied to them, may berendered subservient in turning the table, and the locomotive at thesame-time he stationary on the rails thereof, thereby dispensing withhand-power now employed for effecting such result.

A represents the pit in which the turn-ta ble is fitted and works, saidpit being of circular forni, of the usual or an v proper depth, andhaving a toothed wheel, B, secured centrally on its bottom by beingbolted to a proper bed-piece, a. O is an upright fixed shaft securedcentrally in the wheel B, and D is a rectangular frame composed oftimbers secured together in a permament and durable manner and fitted onthe shaft C so that it may freely turn on said shaft as a center.

On the top of the frame D there are secured two parallel bars, b b, onwhich rails c c are secured. The frame D constitutes the turn-table, andwhen the latter is turnedso that the ends of the rails c care brought inline with rails d d, which intersect the rails of the main road, thelocomotive may be run on and off from the turn-table.

In the frame D there are fitted four vertical drums, E E E E', two atVeach side of the turntable. The lower ends of the shafts of two of thedrums E E have pinions F upon them, which gear into the wheel B, andaround each pair of drums a metallic belt, G, is fitted. These belts G Gare composed of a series of metallic plates, c, connected together byhinges f, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. These belts are perfectlyfiexible and still very strong, and their upper edges, at their innersides,are in line with the rails c and flush with the upper surfaces ofthe same, the rails and bars b b being cut away to receive said belts.

The operation is as follows: The locomotive vis run upon the rails c c,the driving-wheels bearing upon the upper edges of the inner sides ofthe belts G G, and the front Wheels being scotched, in order to preventthe locomotive from moving. The steam is then applied, and thedriving-wheels will rotate and move the endless belts G G, andconsequently the drums E E E E', and as thepinions F on the lower endsof the shafts of the drums E E gear into the fixed wheel B, the tablewill be rotated and is turned a half-revolution in order to turn thelocomotive.

The belt G on the drums E E is used to serve as a bearing for thedriving-wheel opposite to that which is on the belt that is around thedrums E E. Thus by this simple means the table may be turned by thelocomotive, so as to dispense with hand-power entirely.

I would remark that any suitable stop or fastening may be used toprevent the turn-table from turning casually when its rails c are inline with the rails d d of' the branch track on which the locomotivepasses upon and off' from the turn-table.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A railroad turn-table provided with endless metallicbelts G, fitted on drums E E', the shafts of one or more of which havepinions F on their lower ends, in combination with the fixed wheelB atthe bottom of the pit in which the turn-table is tted, and into whichwheel the pinions gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. B. MASSEY.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MCNAMARA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

